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𝑺𝑼𝑹𝑽𝑰𝑽𝑶𝑹
-𝒔𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏
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ten.
throwback
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❝LIGHTS OUT, I'M AFRIAD OF
EVERYTHING THAT MOVES.❞

⋆

"ALL right, we all have our assignments." Steve said as soon as they landed on the street. He walked forward, his quantum suit disappearing to reveal his 2012 Captain America suit. "Two Stones uptown, one Stone down."

He looked back at his team; Tony, Scott, Bruce and Christina. "Stay low, keep an eye on the clock."

A sudden blast made them all turn, watching as a Chitari fire its weapon up. 2012 Hulk landed harshly, smashing a car on it several times. Another standing near Hulk ran off at the sight of this. Hulk picked up a stray tire, hurling it away. Hulk jumps on to the car multiple times, scaring Chris.

When 2012 Hulk ran off, everyone slowly looked at Bruce, who attempted to hide his face behind his hand.

"Maybe smash a few things along the way." Steve nodded, trying to ease off the embarrassment.

Bruce shook his head, before reaching up and tearing his shirt off his torso. He passed by Steve, "I think it's gratuitous but whatever."

Tony and Christina shared a look, both with amused smirks.

They all observed Bruce growl, lacking the Hulk's volume and power. Bruce gave a quick swing down, creating a dent in a taxi and smashing the window. He then approached a motorbike, tossing it across the street and looking around.

"If your past-selves see him, there's definitely gonna be some raised eyebrows." Christina said to Steve in a low tone, rubbing the back of her neck, under her suit, in concern.

Steve sighed, watching Bruce. "Yeah, I know."

"But he's trying his best," Christina sighed next, her frown turning into a sympathetic smile. She glanced at Bruce stalk off towards the Sanctum.

THOR craned his neck, glancing at Loki before rushing forward with Rocket and Lexi following suit. They stopped by Jane's chamber, hiding behind a pillar.

"This is a beautiful place. Peter would've liked this." Lexi looked around the palace hall before at Rocket, who stood on the thick railing to almost match their height. Rocket hummed in response, nodding up at her.

"Oh, there's Jane." Thor muttered, catching their attention. The two pulled their eyes up, watching as Jane slipped into her bedroom and two Asgardian servants shuffled away.

"All right," Rocket jumped down from the railing, looking up at Thor. Thor leaned on the pillar, almost falling apart before them. "here the deal, Tubby; you're gonna charm her with Lexi's help, then I'm gonna poke her with this thing and extract the Reality Stone and get gone, lickety-split."

Thor inhaled loudly through his nostrils, holding up his index finger. "I'll be right back, okay?" He started to move away, making Lexi narrow her eyes. "There's, uh, a wine cellar that's just down there. My father used to fish with a barrel of ale."

"What does fishing with ale have to do with this?" Lexi shook her head in confusion, watching him continue to shuffle away. "Thor!"

"I'll see if the cellar has a couple of..." Thor's words trailed off and he turned to leave.

"Hey, hey!" Rocket whispered loudly. "Aren't you drunk enough already?"

Thor suddenly slammed himself into the pillar beside him, making Rocket and Lexi jump back. The sound of a door opening made Rocket and Lexi duck beside a statue.

The three slowly peered around the corners of their hiding spots. Across the room, an elderly lady walked, accompanied by other servants. Thor's face blanked as he walked away from the pillar and towards the other two.

"Who's the fancy broad?" Rocket muttered, climbing back onto the statue.

"It's my mother. She dies today."

Lexi's mouth parted in a silent gasp, eyes following as the women disappeared around the corner.

"Oh, that's today?" Rocket asked guiltily, glancing at Thor.

"Thor, I'm so sorry." Lexi offered quietly, her voice full of sincerity.

His eyes slowly lowered to the floor before he shook his head and stepped back. "I can't do this. I can't do this."

"I shouldn't be here, I shouldn't have come." Thor mumbled, his breathing starting to quicken with anxiety. "This was a bad idea."

"Come here." Rocket beckoned him forward.

Thor stepped towards Rocket, only to step away once more. He moved his hand around in a circle, gesturing to himself. "I-I think I'm having a-a panic attack."

"Come here," Rocket asked again, only for Lexi to step right in front of the raccoon with a glare.

"Rocket, if you slap him...so help me god."

"What? He needs to get a hold of himself!" Rocket hissed back with an equal glare. "We're on a tight schedule here."

"Let me handle this, then say your piece." Lexi pointed a finger at him. Rocket rolled his eyes, looking away. Lexi turned to Thor, her hard expression instantly melting in to a sympathetic one.

"Thor," she reached up, placing her hands on the sides of his arms. Thor looked down at her, eyes filling with tears. "Come on, breath with me, okay? In and out. In and out."

Thor copied her slow breathing, his chest heaving greatly. After a few minutes of Thor calming down, he finally turned to Rocket, tears still stinging his eyes.

"You think you're the only one who's lost people?" Rocket said in a stern voice, talking down to Thor. "What do you think we're doing here? I lost the only family I ever had. Quill, Groot, Drax, the chick with the antenna. All gone. I'm lucky Lexi didn't disappear too."

Lexi's lips tugged upward at the comment. Thor stared at Rocket, fresh tears making his eyes glossy.

"Now I get you miss your Mom. But she's gone. Really gone. And there are plenty of people who are only kinda gone. But you can help them and your girl Amber too. So is it too much to ask that you brush the crumbs out of your beard, make schmoopy talk to Pretty Pants, and when she's not looking, suck out the Infinity Stone and help me get my family back?"

Thor nodded. "Okay."

"Are you crying?" Rocket asked in disgust.

"Rocket," Lexi snapped.

Thor shook his head, looking away from Rocket. "No..." his face quickly scrunched up. "Yes. I think I'm losing it."

"Get it together!" Rocket hissed. "You can do this! You can do this, all right?"

Thor breathed loudly through his nose, eyes narrowing to a glare. "Yes I can."

"Good," Rocket jumped down from the statue. Lexi sighed, walking towards Jane's bedroom with Rocket.

"I can do this," Thor repeated to himself before suddenly turning on his heel and rushing away. "I can't do this."

"All right, Heartbreaker, she's alone. This is our shot." Rocket started to explain his plan, not knowing it was only Lexi present and listening. "Thor?" They turned just in time to watch Thor turn the corner and disappearing from sight.

"Thor!"

Rocket grunted in frustration, clenching his fists tightly.

Lexi rubbed her eye before yawning. "We are never going to get that Stone."